Recessed shower tub



Oct. 6, 1964 w. A. KING RECESSED SHOWER TUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1962 i 2:. uv fio g...

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WILLIAM A,KING BY R z A TTORNE Y Oct. 6, 1964 w. A. KING RECESSED SHOWER TUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1962 FIGS IN VENTOR WILLIAM A KING ATTORNEY building codes.

United States Patent 3,151,341 RECESSED SHOWER TUB William A. King, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Royden H. Wood, Jr., Clarksville, Md. Filed Aug. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 215,654 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to shower-type bathtubs and more particularly to novel improvements therein relating to construction and installation thereof.

Conventional metal and porcelain-type tubs are not particularly suitable for shower-tub combinations, since the rounded bottoms and the smoothness of the surfaces thereof make it difficult to stand on while taking showers.

Furthermore, conventional porcelain-type tubs are supplied in two types and a variety of colors. Since the tubs are prefinished and installed against one wall, the side of the tube to be installed against the wall is not finished. Consequently, tubs are supplied in two types as either right-hand or left-hand tubs, because the drain must be Within a certain distance of the air stack as specified in Therefore, the supplier must stock both types of tubs in a variety of colors. These conventional tubs cannot be installed in the middle of a room because the unfinished side is unattractive.

The present invention provides a novel, improved shower-type tub which eliminates th above-mentioned objectionable features of conventional tubs.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a bathtub structure adapted to be installed and recessed between joists of a floor which comprises in combination a precast tub body containing support means along the sides of the body. The support means are adapted to rest on the joists of a floor. The tub body has drain means at one end. Adapter bar means are provided to be attached to side walls of the tub body which do not abut a wall and are exposed after installation,

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive shower-type tub which eliminates the need for rightand left-handed tubs prefinished in diiferent colors.

Another object is to provide a tub which has square inner corners and a flat bottom and which is suitable for shower-tub combinations.

Another object is to provide a tub of pre-cast, reinforced concrete or the like, which may be recessed in the floor between joists in the middle of a room or a threewall area.

Another object is to provide a tub which has a built-in seat and optionally a hydrotherapy unit installed therein.

Another object is to disclose the manner of installation of the tub body between the joists of a floor and the subsequent tiling thereof.

The shower-type tub of this invention comprises a precast unitary tub which is made from reinforced concrete, fiberglass, plastic, etc. Reinforced concrete is preferred and will be used as the exemplary material to describe the invention.

The unitary tub may be rectangular, square, round, or any shape as desired. Conventionally, tubs are rectangular and the invention herein will be described with reference to rectangular tubs.

The basic rectangular tub comprises a four walled unit containing a drain hole at one end and integral flange members horizontally along both sides. In another embodiment, a seat forms a part of the unit at one end pposite the drain.

The basic tub unit is adapted to be recessed in the figgrof a room between adjacent joists and be supported recessed in the floor.

3,151,341 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 of adapter bars which are intended to be fused to the unfinished side or sides of the tub after it is recessed in the floor. The adapter bars may be concrete, plastic material, or the like. Thus, the adapter bars are fused to the side or sides which do not abut against a wall and give a desired thickness to the side of the tub. In the case where the tub is in the middle of a room, adapter bars are fused to all sides of the tub. The installed tub with the adapter bars fused thereto is tiled with tiling of any desired color.

The invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of an installed bathtub in a 3-wall area, with one of the walls indicated as removed, embodying the improvements of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation in section looking toward the end which is at the right of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of an installed bathtub illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a section along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view in section looking towardthe end which is at the right of FIGURE 3 and along line 55 thereof.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the numeral 10 indicates generally .a precast, reinforced concrete bathtub installed in a .3-wall area and The tub comprises side walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 and bottom 15. Side walls 12 and 14 are provided with horizontal flange portions 27 and 28 respectively. A drain 16 is provided at one end of the tub in the bottom. Wire mesh reinforcing 29 of the concrete tub is shown in the broken section of side wall 11.

The tub 10 is installed between the double joists 17 and 17a and is supported by the horizontal flange portions 27 and 2S resting on the double joists. The flange 27 may abut studs such as 18 and 18a.

After the tub is installed between the double joists, the walls such as 20 of the area are installed and plastered flush with the upper rim of the tub.

An adapter bar 19 is provided and fused to the flange 28 of the tub either during its installation or prior thereto. The adapter bar serves a decorative function and allows the precast tub to be either right or left hand, i.e. the tub can be installed with the drain 16 near the Wall on which the plumbing is installed. In addition, the adapter bar adds thickness to the front side of the tub and permits a lighter concrete tub to be built initially without the thickness and weight that the adapter bar adds.

The installed tub with the adapter bar including the adjacent walls of the 3-wall area and flooring 23 are then built-up with suitable tiling 21 of any desired color. Plumbing fixtures 24, 25, and 26 are also provided. In addition, suitable shower plumbing fixtures (not shown) may also be installed.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, another embodiment of the bathtub of this invention is shown. The tub generally indicated by the numeral 30 is a precast, reinforced concrete tub similar to the one shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. However, the tub '30 has a built-in seat. As shown in FIGURE 3, the tub is installed in the middle of a room and recessed in the floor; however, the tub can be installed in a three-wall area as shown in FIG- URE 1.

Tub 30 comprises front wall 31, side walls 32, 33 and 3 bottom 34. The rear of the tub is comprised of rear wall 35 and seat portions 36 and 37. Side walls 32 and 33 contain integral, horizontal flange portions 50 and 51 respectively. A drain (not shown) and plumbing fixtures (not shown) are provided near the front wall 31 of the tub.

The seat portion of the tub may optionally contain a hydrotherapy unit therein. Such a conventional unit containing a thermal unit would be used to keep the desired temperature of the water constant and circulating within the tub. As shown, the hydrotherapy unit 48 is attached to the wall 37 and comprises inlet 46, outlet 47, and piping 49 and 49a.

The tub 39 is recessed in the floor between double joists 42 and 43 and is supported thereon by the horizontal flanges 50 and 51.

In the case where the tub 30 is installed in the middle of a room, adapter bars are fused to both sides and ends of the tub. In the embodiment shown, the adapter bars 38 and 39 attached to the front and end walls 31 and 35, respectively, are rounded in shape whereas the side adapter bars 40 and 41 attached to the flanges 50 and 51 are flat. However, the adapter bars may all be rounded giving an overall oval decorative eifect to the tub. Accord ingly, the adapter bars may be rounded or flat giving any desired decorative eflect.

The installed tub with the adapter bars is then tiled with tiling 45 of any desired coloring including the flooring 44.

Although the above description of the invention recites various specific details of the structure shown for purposes of illustration, the invention is capable of various other embodiments within the principles of the invention and the scope of the claim.

What is claimed is:

A bathtub, installed in recessed relation to a floor structure, comprising in combination a precast, unitary tub body having side and end walls and a bottom, the upper longitudinal edge of each of said side walls being laterally thickened to provide outwardly overhanging, oppositely directed mounting flanges running substantially the length of respective side walls, the upper extremity of each flange lying flush with the upper edge of the respective side wall, a floor structure comprising laterally spaced, parallel joists and flooring thereon, said tub body being recessed with respect to said flooring and supported by and between adjacent joists, an adapter bar of substantially the same length and vertical dimension as said flanges, attached to the outer face of at least one of said flanges with its bounding extremities flush with those of said flange, and continuous tiling covering the surface of said flooring, that portion of said adapter bar above said flooring, and the upper edge and inner surfaces of the side and end walls and bottom of said tub body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,644- 2/11 Pohl 4--189 1,580,661 4/26 Funk et al 4-148 1,797,397 3/31 Booraem et al. 4-l72 1,997,249 4/35 Dobbs 4-173 2,055,173 9/36 Deubelbeiss 4-146 2,058,188 10/36 Stanton 4173 2,333,491 11/43 Plante 4173 2,407,738 9/46 Falco 4173 2,427,375 9/47 Walker et a1. 4--173 3,027,568 4/62 Blau etal 4-182 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,410 3/54 Italy.

258,537 12/48 Switzerland.

EDWARD V. BENHAM, Primary Examiner.

FRANK H. BRONAUGH, Examiner. 

